How One Company Uses Our Video Courses

It can be very challenging for companies of any size to completely integrate a training program for their CNC equipment, even for companies that do have a formal training department. Generally speaking, people who have the most CNC experience in a company (those who make the best candidates to act as teachers) are so valuable to their company in their CNC positions that they may not have the time or inclination to teach what they know to others. On the other hand, instructors in the training department may not be well enough versed with CNC to train CNC people adequately.

Such has been the problem of Lynn Brown, Training Coordinator for Parker Hannifin Corporation, in Greeneville, TN. "We've developed very good courses for blueprint reading, shop math, and gauging devices. We've also developed basic courses on statistical process control and quality control. However, since our CNC people are so tied up with their daily activities, we have found it very difficult to do much more than present the most basic of information when it comes to CNC training.", says Mr. Brown.

This is a difficult problem shared by many companies using CNC equipment. Yet it must be solved if companies are to ensure the competence of their CNC people and make the most effective use of their CNC machine tools.

There are only three solutions. First, the company can improve the capability of their training staff (the instructors in the training department must thoroughly learn CNC). This, of course, requires a great deal of time and effort from the instructors involved. Second, the company can change its priorities for the CNC people to ensure that they have time to teach. This, of course detracts from the productivity of the CNC department (and there is no guarantee that even an expert CNC person will enjoy teaching and make a good teacher). Third, they can look to outside vendors and contractors for help. "Instead of reinventing the wheel", states Mr. Brown, "we wanted to incorporate a proven CNC curriculum. We knew there had to be someone in this industry that could provide us with quality CNC training materials.

The CNC machines we have are not at all unique, consisting mostly of machining centers and turning centers. And many of our CNC machines have the most popular control in the industry (Fanuc). Yet for the longest time, we were stifled. We purchased a few short videos on CNC only to find that they were little more than documentaries on CNC, and did very little when it came to actually training.

Then we learned about the series of CNC video courses available from CNC Concepts, Inc." For Parker Hannifin, the problem was solved by combining the integration of an outside vender's video training course with some simple reinforcement from the company's current CNC staff. Mr. Brown continues, "The first course we purchased, Turning Center Programming and Operation, truly minimized the effort we had to put into our CNC training. It contains 11.5 hours of video presentation, a comprehensive tutorial manual, practice exercises and answers. The presentation is easy to follow, yet thorough. It is broken into twenty- eight lessons, with a practice exercise after each lesson - and answers are included. The manual that accompanies the course is very good for reviewing information. The only two things our people have to do is schedule the time for training and be ready to answer the specific questions our students have."

Many of the advantages of video courses are almost self evident. Pressure on the student to retain information is reduced as compared to live classes since they can rewind the tape to view the presentation as many times as necessary. Reviewing key information at any time is as easy as placing the right tape into the VCR. Video eliminates time-and-place constraints, since training can take place anywhere there is a VCR and television. And, training is truly cost effective since any number of students can view the course. However, with all the benefits, there are some limitations as well.

First, CNC video courses tend to be somewhat generic, showing the most commonly used application techniques. In many cases, the most common usage technique available to handle a given problem may not be the most efficient method for all companies. Second, there are a great deal of different machine tool builders manufacturing CNC equipment. Even though they maintain some consistencies, there are also substantial differences (even among those who use Fanuc and Fanuc-compatible controls). While videos can nicely stress the key concepts that must be understood in order to program and operate any form of CNC equipment, they cannot get overly specific when it comes to any one builder. Third, while the student is viewing the video course, they may have a question that is not answered on tape.

Due to these limitations, even companies utilizing CNC video courses must be prepared to participate in the training of their employees. "With the video courses we purchased from CNC Concepts, Inc.," continues Mr. Brown, "we get free phone assistance if anyone has questions. We can also call at any time to get application suggestions or discuss special techniques that must be used with our specific machines. We also receive a technical newsletter to keep us up-to-date on the latest CNC usage techniques. Even though this support is free from CNC Concepts, Inc., we do intend to make one of our CNC people available to answer the basic questions a student has as they view the course."